Keselowski routs Richmond field
RICHMOND, Va. — NASCAR’s new win-and-in format had the potential to give one driver a shot at a dramatic last-grasp berth into the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.
There were 17 drivers who could have raced their way into the Chase by winning Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway, but Brad Keselowski would have nothing to do with a storybook ending.
Keselowski routed the Richmond field, leading all but 17 of the 400 laps en route to his fourth victory of the season. It gave him the top seed in the Chase, which begins next Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway.
“What a night. I pulled into Victory lane and I pinched myself once to make sure I wasn’t dreaming,” said Keselowski, the 2012 champion. “These are nights you don’t forget as a driver and you live for.”
Kevin Harvick was the only driver who appeared capable of challenging Keselowski, but it was early in the race when he led the other 17 laps that Keselowski did not claim. His Stewart-Haas Racing team again struggled on pit road.
“It’s probably the biggest thing that we have to fix in order to contend for the championship,” Harvick said.
The lack of on-track action meant the only drama to come out of the race was when a fan climbed to the top of the Turn 4 catchfence that separates the track from the grandstands. NASCAR was forced to throw the caution flag with 69 laps remaining. A track spokeswoman said the unidentified man was arrested by Henrico County police and charged with being drunk in public and disorderly conduct.
“If he wants to play in traffic, it’s his problem,” said Denny Hamlin, who dropped two laps down because of the caution.
Defending NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson finished eighth but was apparently suffering from dehydration when he exited the car. He first laid down next to his car, then had to be helped to a cart by his Hendrick Motorsports crew. He was taken to the infield care center, where he was treated for roughly 90 minutes.
Johnson, who canceled his planned Sunday participation in a sprint triathlon for his foundation, said he was treated with five liters of fluids.
“I got dehydrated in the car and I’m not exactly sure what led to it,” he said. “I started cramping when I got out of the race car and when I was cramping, I was trying to stand up and I got dizzy.”
Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon said it gets hot in the car.
“I know there was a couple times throughout the race where I felt like I was cramping, as well,” Gordon said. “It’s hot out there. It’s hard to keep your fluids.”
Nothing fazed Keselowski, who came to Richmond a year ago needing a strong finish to make the Chase field, but failed and was not eligible to defend his title. Now he’ll try to give Team Penske a season sweep — Will Power gave the organization the IndyCar championship a week ago.
